Disclosed are a method apparatus and system for providing addressed network content in connection with a video production. A disclosed method includes receiving a first request from a reproducing apparatus, for example a set-top box, the first request having been extracted from a video production communicated to the reproducing apparatus; determining a second resource identifier responsive to the first request and redirecting the first request wherein a response is provided to the reproducing apparatus. A resource identifier used in the first request is an ‘indexical’ resource identifier in that it specifies a path to be used by a server that is independent (or substantially independent) of content received in response to providing a request to the resource identifier. Determining a second resource identifier may involve creating a resource identifier that includes one or more parameter-parameter value pairs. An apparatus according to the invention may be a server or other computer programmed to handle the indexical request and provide response content. A system according to the disclosure may include the server and a facility for communicating the video production. Additionally disclosed aspects include a method for creating a video production that includes indexical resource identifiers and a method and system for encoding one or more series of resource identifiers in a video production.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A method for providing addressed network content in connection with an enhanced video production and a data network, said method comprising: receiving a first request from a reproducing apparatus, said first request comprising a first resource identifier, said first resource identifier extracted from a video production communicated to said reproducing apparatus; generating a second resource identifier responsive to said first resource identifier utilizing a parameter, the parameter being extracted from the first resource identifier; and redirecting said first request to said second resource identifier, wherein thereafter a response is communicated to said reproducing apparatus.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein generating a second resource identifier responsive to said first resource identifier comprises: identifying a parameter value associated with said parameter; and generating a second resource identifier comprising said parameter and said parameter value responsive to said first resource identifier.
3. A method according to claim 1 wherein generating a second resource identifier responsive to said first resource identifier comprises: identifying a parameter of a first type and a parameter of a second type, wherein said parameter of a first type is identified responsive to a header in said first request; and identifying a first parameter value associated with said parameter of a first type and a second parameter value associated with said parameter of a second type, wherein said first parameter value is identified responsive to an expression associated with said header.
4. A method according to claim 1 wherein redirecting said first request to said second resource identifier comprises sending an internal redirect message.
5. A method according to claim 1 wherein redirecting said first request to said second resource identifier comprises sending an external redirect message.
6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said external redirect message is communicated to said reproducing apparatus.
7. A system for providing addressed network content in connection with an enhanced video production and a data network comprising: a video production communication device; a reproducing apparatus configured to receive video production from said video production communication device, said video production comprising a first resource identifier, said reproducing apparatus communicatively coupled with said data network, said reproducing apparatus further configured to extract said first resource identifier and communicate a first request comprising said first resource identifier via said data network; a first server communicatively coupled with said data network, said first server configured to perform steps comprising: receiving said first request comprising said first resource identifier; generating a second resource identifier responsive to said first resource identifier utilizing a parameter, the parameter being extracted from the first resource identifier; and redirecting said first request to said second resource identifier, wherein thereafter a response is communicated to said reproducing apparatus.
8. A system according to claim 7 further comprising a second server and wherein said second resource identifier is addressable via said second server.
9. An apparatus comprising a processor, a memory, and an-input output system, programmed instructions configuring said apparatus to provide: a first request receiver for receiving a first request from a reproducing apparatus, said first request comprising a first resource identifier, said first resource identifier extracted from a video production communicated to said reproducing apparatus; a second resource identifier generator for generating a second resource identifier responsive to said first resource identifier utilizing a parameter, the parameter being extracted from the first resource identifier; and a first request redirector for redirecting said first request to said second resource identifier, wherein thereafter a response is communicated to said reproducing apparatus.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the second resource identifier generator comprises: a parameter identifier for identifying the parameter; a parameter value identifier for identifying a parameter value associated with said parameter; and a second resource identifier generator for generating a second resource identifier comprising said parameter and said parameter value responsive to said first resource identifier.
11. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the second resource identifier generator comprises: a parameter identifier for identifying a parameter of a first type and a parameter of a second type, wherein said parameter of a first type is identified responsive to a header in said first request; and a parameter value identifier for identifying a first parameter value associated with said parameter of a first type and a second parameter value associated with said parameter of a second type, wherein said first parameter value is identified responsive to an expression associated with said header.
12. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first request redirector comprises an internal redirector for sending an internal redirect message.
13. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the first request redirector comprises an external redirector for sending an external redirect message.
14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said external redirect message is communicated to said reproducing apparatus.
15. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said first request receiver comprises means for receiving a first request from a reproducing apparatus, said first request comprising a first resource identifier, said first resource identifier extracted from a video production communicated to said reproducing apparatus; said second resource identifier generator comprises means for generating a second resource identifier responsive to said first resource identifier; and said first request redirector comprises means for redirecting said first request to said second resource identifier, wherein thereafter a response is communicated to said reproducing apparatus.
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January 15, 1999
October 29, 2002
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